Diving-gear for submarine boats.



F. M. LEAVITT Y 'DWI-NG GEAR PonsUBMARINE nous.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1907. 933)()83I Patented Sept. ,7, :1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

DIYIN APPLIOIION` FILED HAY 22. 1907.

AP. M. LBAVTT; w G GEAR pon sUBMAnINB-Boms.

PategmaaA sept. 7, 1909.

WiTNlEssEs; p

Ff M., LEAVITT. DIYI'NG GEAR POR SUBMARINE BQATS. APPLIUATION FILED 14M 224. 1907.

933,083. Patented sept. 7, 1909.

INVENTOR i- WITNESSES;

F. Mf 'LEMITVT-l DIYINGGBYAR FOB SUBMARINE BOATS. APPLIOATIUH FILED MAIER. 1907.

Patented sept. '7, 1909.L

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 INVENTOR actuated steering engine;

plunger of this engine is connected tothetiller of the diving rudder.

FRANK M. LEAVITT, OIF/NEW YORK, 'N. Y., ,ASSIGNQR BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

WEST vmeinia.

' Divine-enna non sU'BMARINE Boers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea May 22, iso?. serian i510. 375,074.

To all whom, it may concern:

lle. it known that I, FRANK citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn,'county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diving-Gear for Submarine Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This Ainvention provides a so-called diving gear or immersion mechanism for automatically maintaining a for example as an automobile torpedo, at a yprescribed depth beneath the surface. Such an' immersion mechanism comprises controlling means such as a apparatus' controlled thereby, and a rudder turning upon a horizontal axis operated by such .steering mechanism. In the Whitehead torpedo the controlling means combines a hydrostatic diaphragm and a pendulum; these operate the float-ing valve of a {luidprovides a mechan- The 'present invention mechanism adaptedl ically-operated steering to be controlled with ness, Vand adapted toexert for operatingthe rudder. .thev -{iuid pressure steering used.

The steering take the form of .trolling means; feeler which may ward and from into touch therewith so as to be positioned and then receding therefrom so that according to itsposition Ait may or :maynot encounter an actuated part or tappet, which it is able to displacewithout any reaction?l thereby,

against the controlling part, and with a device applied, according such ractuated part the application source to :nove in either direction ing carrier; driven part to submarine vessel, such hydrostat, a steering' Fig. 4 is a and'the piston or v (here shown as a ,the utmost sensitivea powerful force Itdispenses with engine heretofore mechanism comprises a movable controlling 'or pilot part whichmay an oscillatory disk or cam, and'which. is moved by the hydrostatic con- Aan impression device or take the form v of a light L dog or pallet, andwhich moves rapidly to- Asuch cam, coming lightly.

and a connection from such the rudder whereby the power is applied to tu-rn the rudder. --This meehi anism is susceptible of 'control without appreciable reactive thrust, so. that ya very weak, feeble, or" sensitive controlling device may effectively govern the steering opera- It also enables the utilization of. an ample power, such'for example as that taien .from the propelling engine, for operating the rudder. It provides for instantaneous control -of the rudder, the movements' of which fellow immediately afterthose cmmunieated by the controlling means.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section through a portion of the hull of a torpedov showing the mechanism partly in elevation; Fig. 2 is 'a horizontal section thereof; Fig. 3 -is a vertical section on a larger scale of the steering mechanism; horizontal section thereof. Figs. 5 and are elevations showingniodications .of the steering mechanism.

Referring to the drawings,

the -hull of the torpedo or other submarine boat, of which B is the propellin turbine), andf horizontal rudder,

This rudder is usually divided, forming two fins or section-s on the rudder. shaft, as shown in Fig. Q.

D is the hydrostat, usually constructed as a diaphragmA a, the water pressure in a chamber or compartment E between two bulkheads.

F is the vusual pendulum coperating with the hydrostat for controllingthe steering means.

G is the steering mechanism As shown,. the hydrostat and their connections are of .usual construction. The diaphragm a receives through a head b and rod c the pressure of a spring fl.

as a whole.

TO E. W. 'BLISS COMPANY, QF A CORIPDEATIQN otherwise' called the div` .ing rudder or immersion rudder.

Patented sett. t', 1909.

let A indicate 0 engine is the '85 which receives on one side and pendulum This spring is adjustable by a screw e' cngaging a nut f and elbow-lever g `against wh'ch the spring reacts.

ries an equalizing lever z', the two. arms of which are fixed on a shaft j hungvin'bea'rings ou the pendulum. The upper arm connects with the' rod c by a lever k turning on a fixed fulcrum; the lower arm connects by a rod Z with the controllingor the steering mechanism Gr.

The steering mechanism G is shown with its working parts mainlyginclosed in a shell or casing n, but this -is not essential. The

The pendulum F is hung from a frame or support z.v and car'- lforce limited only by the source of power. which reciprocates it; a ppwer-contiollingf.

' to the position of or tappet, to determine i of power from any suitable a driven pilot part of part which maytake the form of an oscillaty `1mg engine B.

mechanism comprises a movable driven part or carrier H, which may be any suitable 0S- cillatory frame or disk, and which has a hub gears o drives the shaft I.

The function of the steering mechanism is to direct the application ofthe .power derived from the shaft I to turn the rudder. The steering mechanism is controlled a controlling or pilot part L which is move by the hydrostat through the rod l; the part L is shown as an oscillatable part or mutilateddisk, fastened (by welding or otherwise) on a short shaft m passing through a bearing in the front of the casing n, and having fixed on its outer end (as by a set-screw) an arm m to which the rod l connects, so that the movements of this rod are communicated to the part L.

4 The pilot art L is adapted to act upon an impressionevice, by which its movements are communicated without any appreciable reactive thrust, to the power-controlling means. To this end the' part L.is formed with a cam L', and the impression-device is preferably a light reciprocating dog or feeler K. The parts L and K are preferably duplicated as shown, the lower cam being shown in dotted lilies in Fig. 3. For reciprocating the feelers K they may be earried on any suitable reciprocatin part by which each feeler is moved rapid y toward and from its cam L'. The feder-approaches the cam with a gentle touch, so that it receives an'upright or tilted position according to Whether the cam is central or displaced; and the movement is so rapid that in receding the feeler cannot lose the position thus impressed upon it. For thus reciprocating the feelers they are shown as carried on a slide J mounted on the carrier H and reciprocated by suitable power, preferably that taken Jfrom the same drivin shaft I. The slide is shown' as formed with a transverse slot v-'engaged by a crank s on the shaft I.

'lfhe feelers K K in their movement away from'their respective cams engage an ractuated p art M in the nature of a tappet, and the movements of which control the application of power to turn the carrier H inv one direction or the other. This part or tappet M is shown as a slide, carried by the carrier II. The ower is convenienxly a plied through rig it and left gearing engage with a driven shaft through clutches, but other means may be substituted. F or this purpose the driving shaft I carries a `n'iiter-gear which imparts opposite rotation to like gears on hollow shafts N and N', which turn constantly iu opposite directions and carry clutches P and l respectively, by which lo engage either of them separately with a propelling mechanism which in turn moves the carrier ll. Its shown, this mechanism comprises a shaft Q passing through the hollow shafts N N. '.lo apply the clutches, the slide M is connected to thc shaft Q to move it endwise. The connection shown is by means of an elbow-lever ll engaging a collar It fixed ou the shaft. Thus in its middle position the shaft Q is stationary, but, when displaced toward eitherside it is driven in one direction or the other. It` carries a pinion S which through any suitable train of gearing (such as a gear rl", worm U and' worm-wheel V) drives a pinion Vl which engages a fixed rack Y. Thus `the rotation imparted to the shaft Q is connnunicaded (at usually a reduced speed) to the pinion W,

which travels along the rack Y and carries' i with it the carrier H, which is thus turned slowly in one direction or the other. 'lhe carrier is turned in such direction as to follow the movement previously imparted to the pilot L. Its movement coutumes until it has been displaced through the same angle as the pilot cam, or in other words uutil it overtakes the cam; thereupon the l'eelers K are brought bv ,the cam to their normal position and the slide M is restored to its normal or middle position, thereby dismnncctingv the clutch and stopping the rotation of the shaft Q, so that the carrier stops.

The rudder is connected in any suitable way to the carrier, so that the movements of the carrier are imparted to -the rudder. When the carrier is in' its normal or central position, the rudder is directed in an axial plane; when the carrier is displaced to either side, the rudder is correspondingly turned either upward or downward, that is to say in the proper direction to steer the torpedo or other submarine boat toward the prescribed depth. The connection shown consists of a link t, lever fu., and connecting rod o, which latter connects to the tiller w, which is show n as an arm 'fixed to the rudder shaft i The operation will now be described. A suming first that the vessel is running on an even keel and at the prescribed depth, thc

arts are in the position shown in the d ra u'- mg; that is to say the hydrostat is in equilibrium, the stress of its spring l balancing the Water pressure, the pendulum hangs vertically, the pilot L slide M and shaftQ lan in central positions, the carrier ll is stationar and the rudder is in the plane of the axis. If for example the craft should run too deep, the increase in hydrostatic pressure would overcome the spring d, and the resulting movement of the diaphragm would be communicated through the parts c, z', Z, m, to the pilot L. The angular displaceltlO eaose a nient ofthe pilotv clam serves to'tilt the feeler l( at the next movement of the latter toward it, .'A'c'cordln'gto-the direction to which this feeler fis ltilted it imparts on its -receding movement "a displacement to the. slide M, which througlhtheiever R is communicated to the shaft Q,anil"the latter 4is clutchedto one or other of the oppositely revolving shafts 1T 'N; whdieby -through the train of gearing the'pi'nion W is tuined so that. it carries with it the carrie'r H, and hence through the connections t, u, 11, turns the 'i rudder, tilting .th'e latter upwardly so that it checks-the downwar'dcourse of the craft and steersit in van yascendin@r course. As soon as the carrier Hhas been 2displaced to the same .ei'itentjas'tliefirst'displacement of the pilot liydrcstat.

`L,lthe"ifeeler K is' restored to central position alidl'restores'th'e slide M, and the train of gearings stopped, thereby arresting the car- Vrier'a'nti the 'rudder after an inclination has been imparted to the llatter which corre- 'sp'ondsto the original'displacement of'the :As the submarine craft steers u wardly't-h'e hydrostatic pressure diminils "es, so 'that-the spring d moves back the diaphragm and there results a contrary nio- 't'ionyofthe Vpilot L,which in turn sets the -steerin mechanism infoperation in the contrary-y irefction .until the carrier- H again overtakesjthe displacement ot'the pilot L,

whereupon ita-gain stops; during this return ymovement the rudder C 4is restored to its former position. if the vessel rises above the prescribed depth, the contrary ser-ies of 'operations is performed. The movements are modified by the action. of the pendulum F which carries"the fulcrum of the lever i,

so that the movements of the cam are theresuitants of the combined movements of the hydrostat and pendulum, according to the manner which is well understood with referen'ce tothe immersion gear of the Whitehead torpedo. I

The impression deities or sensitive directive means herein described comprising the light reciprocating feeler K moving rapidly toward and from a cam L on a controlling part, and in its receding movement striking a tappet part'M, is in principle essentially the same as that set forth in United States Patent No. 7 95,045,granted Julyl8, 1905. In order to restore thetappet or slide M to its mid-posiw tion, each of' the feelers K is provided with "two tappet shoulders y and y; the shoulders y encounter 'the tappet when the ee'lers are in 'the normal or mid-position, and are so placed as to move the'tappet from either extremeposition tothe mid-position; the yslfioulder's ./y are arnanged'sufiiciently in advance so' that upon striking 'the' tappet they will displace it from its mid-position to one or other of 'its extreme positions. .This feas turey-,generali is setforth in inyjpendinv appiicaion'- o. sessel, flied-March 20.190?.

The'steering mechanism may be variously modiiiedwithin the principle of the, present invention. Vlion examplethefmeans for ap- 1- ply'mg power and :for controlling its app cation may be greatly varied.

5InfFig. 5 is shown -avmodiiication in which the'pilot partL'has but one cam and there is but' one feeler K which acts upon two tappet parts orfslides M1 M2 which are connected to move "in opposite directions through' the medium of a lever Z, which lever has an up'- right arm lconnecting-by a rod Z with the lever eR which engages the clutch collar R. Instead of the feeler lK 'having Atwo successive shoulders, these shoulders y y are formed on the tappetsM1 M2 so as to operate in like manner. The cam L is shown as an inversely stepped cam. The eeler K instead of bein located/from an eccentric s on a' continuously revolving` shaft fN. vOtherwise the construction is the same as that rst described. y l

Another modication is shown Vin Fig. 6,

acting on a single feeler. This feeleris carried Aas in the first instance on a reciprocatii'ig slide J, which as before is reciprocate'd by an eccentric s on the driving shaft I. This slide also serves as the means for communicating power to the propelling mechanisin'by means of a ratchet and 'pawl device. lTothis end the slide carries. pawls A1 A2 which are normally out of engagement with a double-acting ratchet-wheel Q1,

carried on a reciprocating slide, 1sA carrie on a lever J W ch is recip el). where also the pilot Lha-s only-'a single camel (which may as shown consist of two ratchets with oppositely-directed teeth) which connects through miter gears to the worm U, which through a train of gearing as before drives the pinion W which meshes with the rack Y. Both pawls are normally out of engagement with the ratchetsand so continue as long as the feeler occupies its n'ormal central position, so that the two tappets M1 M2 remain, unt-ilted; but upon the turning of the feeler so that it tiltsieither tappet, this movement is communicated through their connecting rod to thevother, and throughv any suitable connecting mechanism to the pawls to throw oneof them into enturn the train of gearing in the corresponding direction. The intercommunicating parts shown are va rod 10, lever 11, rod 1Q and link 13, springs 14, 14 being introduced to allow for the movement of the ga gement with its ratchet wheel and thereby awls in i vclicking over theJ ratchet teetln The operation is essentially the same as with t-he construction iirst described, cli-dering therefrom only that the movement imparted to thecarrier and thence to 'the rudder is intermittent instead of continuous.

v'The 'details and general arrangement of mechanism may be greatly variedwithout departing from the invention, the essential features of which will loe set forth in the claims. It is not strictly essential, although preferable, that the steering mechanism shall be in the nature of a follow-np mechanism .so-called wherein a driven part or traveler is controlled by and follows the movements ot a controlling or pilot part so as to antoniatically stop after a displacement Which corresponds to that of the pilot part; this in the described construction is accomplished by having the part J or J carry the feeler K, itself carried by the carrier H, so that as the latter is displaced the path of reciprocation of the feeler is correspondingly displaced.

l claim as my invention z l. A diving gear comprisingI hydrostatic controlling means, a` source of power, a rudder, and an iiiterliosed steering mechanism comprising a po\vei.-coiitrolling device, controlled from said hydrostatic incans, and a driven part connected to the rudder and propelled progressively by said power in either direction under control of said power-- controlling device.

2. A diving'gear comprising hydrostatic controlling means, a pilot part nioved thereby, a source of power, a rudder, and an interposed steeringmechanism comprising an iniprcssion-device adapted to be positioned by said pilot pai-t, a tappet ldisplaced. by said iinpression-device, a power-controlling device actuated by said tappet to control said power. and a` driven part moved progressively in either direction by said power and connected to the rudder.

2l. A diring gearcoinprising hydrostatic controlling means, a pilot part moved thereby, a source ot' power, a rudder, and an intel'- posed steering mechanism comprising a re- (,:ipi'ocating ieeler moving toward and from said pilot part, a tappct moved by said `leeler, a 1iower-controlling device actuated by .'aid tappct to control said power, and a driven part nioved progressively in either diredtion by said power and connected to the rudder.

4. A diving gear comprising hydrostatic ilontrolling means, a pilot part moved therel y, a'soilrce of power, arudder, and an intei'- pose steering mechanism comprising an impression-device adapted to bc positioned by said pilot part, a driven pail: or carrier 'moved progressively in either direction iroin said soiiice of power carrying said impression-device and itself connected to the rudder, and a power-coiitrolling device actuated, under control of'said impression device to -control the application ot' power to said driven part..

5. A diving gear comprising hydrostatic controlling means, a pilot )art moved thereby, a source of power, a rudder, and an, interposed steering mechanism comprising a reciprocating tee/ler moving toward-and from said pilot part, a` tappet `moved by said teelcr. a power-controlling device actuated bysaid tappet to control said power, and a driven part carrying said reciprocating feeler and moved progressively 1n eitheai direction by said power and connected to the rudder.

(t. A. diving gear comprising hydrostatic by. a source ot power, a ru( dei', and an interp -ed `steering mechanism coii'ilririsii'ig a driven part or carrier connected lo the ruddcr, :i reciprocating 'feeler carried by` said carrie' and moving toward and from said 80 pilot part, a tappet moved by said feelei' and carried by said carrier, and a power-com trolling device actuated by said tappet tol control said Vpower and thereby to propel said carrier progressively in either direction.

T. In a diving gear, a steering mechanism, a movable pilot part having cams, two teelcrs cach reciprocating toward and from one of said cams, means for. reciprocating said feelei's and an actuated )art or ta) )et 90 engaged by said ieelers respectively during lpposite movements thereof.

8. In a diving gear, a steering mechanisin, a movable pilot. part, a reci rocating ieeler coactiiig therewith, means rocatiiig said feelcr, and an actuated part or tappet engaged by said feeleigsaid eeler and tappet having reciprocal shoulders adapted in the normal position of the feeler to move the tappet to mid-position, and in -a tilted position of the feeler to displace the tappet fromv mid-position.

9. i'i steering mechanism. comprising a drivino' shaft, a pilot part movable iipoii an axis coincident with that of said shaft, a

reciprocating part. driven 4by'said shaft, a lfeeler carried thereby enacting with said pilot part, and a tappet arranged to be cngagi-id by said eclei'.

l0. A steering mechanism coinpiisin movable pilot part having Canis, tivo fee ers each reciprocating toward and from one of :said cams, means for reciprocating said ieelers, and an actuated part or tappet consisting ota slide having shoulders engaged A steering mechanism comprising a driving shaft, a t'ccler reciprocatcd. Jfrom saidl shaitt, a pilot part contro ling said feeler, a

'tappet device actuated by said feeler, a

driven part, and propelling mechanism forv driving il under control of said tappet de.-

e: ntrolliiig means, a pilot part moved thei'e- 75 or recip- 95 ait't, a pilot part controlling said 120 vice ,Y com rising' o ositelyv rotatin nrts driven fipoln siidpghaft, a 'driveng s aft, clutches for engaging the latter with either of said rotating parts operated by said tapet device, and means for imparting mzion rom said driven shaftto said driven part.

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two Snbsclibingf wltnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT;

Witnesses CHARLES EQPOLLARD, FRED. H. MCGAHIE. 

